Klopp questions record transfer fee

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Jurgen Klopp (TEAMtalk)

Cape Town - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his disapproval of the massive transfer fees paid by clubs in the current transfer window.

Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain recently completed a €90m switch to Juventus from Serie A rivals Napoli, while midfielder Paul Pogba is believed to be on the verge of joining Manchester United in a €110m deal - a fee that would set a new transfer fee record.

Gareth Bale is currently the world's most expensive footballer, having joined Real Madrid in 2013 for a fee of €100m.

When asked for his thoughts on the massive transfer fees paid by clubs, Klopp told reporters: "If you bring one player in for £100m and he gets injured, then it all goes through the chimney.

"The day that this is football, I'm not in a job anymore, because the game is about playing together.

"That is how everybody in football understands it. You always want to have the best, but building the group is necessary to be successful.

"Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players. I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money.

"I don't know exactly how much money we could spend because nobody has told me, 'No, you can't do this'.

"If I spend money, it is because I am trying to build a team, a real team. Barcelona did it. You can win championships, you can win titles, but there is a manner in which you want it."

Liverpool have brought in a handful of new player in the off-season, with Sadio Mane joining the Reds from Southampton for €35m and Georginio Wijnaldum arriving from Newcastle United in a €30m deal.

While Klopp has no interest in challenging the Anfield club's Premier League rivals for big-name signings, he is quite happy to bring in players with great potential at lower fees.

"If you all swim in the same pool, the pool is too small - you all go for the same players," he said.

"There are a lot of players outside that pool - good players on to the next step in their career. We try to find them.

"The best player of the last season is good to know but it is more interesting trying to find out who will be the best next year.

"If you knew it now that would be a really cool transfer! It would be much cheaper too. That is what we work for.

"It is not about being creative because creative is cool or something. It is about finding the players who can make the next step with us."